Cohoe to Kodiak is 222.8 miles and takes about 10h 50m via Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry and Sterling Highway, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip connects two locations within Alaska, primarily utilizing the Alaska Marine Highway system for its longest stretch. The route is best suited for those looking for a scenic travel experience that involves a significant ferry component. With a recommended two days for the trip, you'll have ample time to enjoy the journey without feeling rushed. Plan for a mostly surface road experience outside of the ferry.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.4 miles from Cohoe, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry
151.3 mi
9h
Sterling Highway
59.2 mi
1h 23m
North Cohoe Loop Road
5.4 mi
9m
Homer Spit Road
4.3 mi
8m
Homer Bypass Road
0.9 mi
2m
Ocean Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Ness Road
0.4 mi
1m
Lake Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry
— 151.3 mi, about 9h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cohoe, AK and Kodiak, AK.
1
Start on this road
153 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Ness Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Ness Road
3
Turn left onto North Cohoe Loop Road
5.4 mi·9 min·North Cohoe Loop Road
4
Turn right onto AK 1
59 mi·1 hr 23 min·Sterling Highway
5
Continue on AK 1
0.9 mi·2 min·Homer Bypass Road
6
Continue on AK 1
0.4 mi·54 sec·Lake Street
7
Continue on AK 1
0.5 mi·1 min·Ocean Drive
8
Continue on AK 1
4.3 mi·8 min·Homer Spit Road
9
Turn left onto Coast Guard Access
0.2 mi·1 min·Coast Guard Access
10
Turn left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry
151 mi·9 hr·Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry
11
Continue
186 ft·17 sec
12
Turn left onto Marine Way East
89 ft·6 sec·Marine Way East
13
Turn right onto Center Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Center Street
14
Turn right onto Mill Bay Road
20 ft·0 sec·Mill Bay Road
15
Arrive at destination
Mill Bay Road
Trip Plan
Given the 10h 50m estimated duration, splitting this trip over two days is recommended. The longest stretch is the ferry, so plan your departure to align with ferry schedules. You'll encounter 3 stops along the way, which are good opportunities for breaks. Keep an eye on fuel costs, estimated at $49, and ensure you have enough for the ferry and any road segments. The ferry itself will be a significant portion of your travel time, so book it in advance if possible.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 111.4 miles from Cohoe, AK, or about 4h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.3 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 49 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.4 miles or 4h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 111.4 miles or 4h 12m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kodiak, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cohoe, AK so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cohoe, AK
Aim for roughly 111 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Kodiak, AK
Aim for roughly 111 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Cohoe, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry for about 151.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 222.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Ness Road
Turn right onto Ness Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|North Cohoe Loop Road
Turn left onto North Cohoe Loop Road
Navigation decision point
4
71.3 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry
Turn left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry
Navigation decision point
5
222.7 mi into trip|~10h 49m in|Center Street
Turn right onto Center Street
Navigation decision point
5
222.8 mi into trip|~10h 50m in|Mill Bay Road
Turn right onto Mill Bay Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.56 one way
$87.12 round trip
$4.97/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.28
$46.30
$92.59
premium
$5.46
$47.85
$95.70
diesel
$4.80
$42.07
$84.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$174–$284
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.39
$10.69
Efficient EV
55.7
0
$19.50
$8.91
EV Truck/SUV
89.1
1
$31.19
$14.26
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Cohoe, AK
Late night
in Cohoe on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
AKDT
Current temp
57°F
Light Rain Likely
NW 0 to 5 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:11AM AKDT by NWS Anchorage AK
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 9:56PM AKDT by NWS Anchorage AK
Destination
Kodiak, AK
Late night
in Kodiak on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
AKDT
Current temp
54°F
Light Rain
SE 15 to 20 mph91% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:11AM AKDT by NWS Anchorage AK
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 9:56PM AKDT by NWS Anchorage AK
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
10h 50m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route has a 0% highway share, meaning all driving is on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll cover is 151.3 miles on the Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry. After the ferry portion, you'll be navigating on surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect a more rural cruising feel, typical of travel outside major metropolitan areas.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.3 mi on Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ness Road.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 222.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ness Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (North Cohoe Loop Road): Navigation decision point; at 71.3 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
272 ft0 ft
Total Climb
299 ft
Total Descent
337 ft
Highest Point
272 ft
~15.9 mi in
Elevation Range
272 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Kodiak Island is in southwestern Alaska, in the Gulf of Alaska, 250 miles south of Anchorage. It is Alaska's largest island and second largest in the US, after the Big Island in Hawaii. The City of Kodiak is situated on the east shore of Kodiak Island.
Top landmarks
•Holy Resurrection Church — historic church in Alaska, United States
Moderate complexity with 3 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
10h 50m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151.3 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 111 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Kodiak, AK before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through AK can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ness Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (North Cohoe Loop Road): Navigation decision point; at 71.3 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.8 hours each way, a round trip means 21.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kodiak, AK before the return drive.
